Welding - what are the issues?

Welding poses a range of hazards to your health. These can act quickly
such as electric shock or exposure to cadmium fumes, or they may show
up in the long term such as lung and breathing disorders. Welding can lead to 'metal fume fever'; welders who have occupational exposure to manganese fumes may be
at risk for developing parkinsonism-like neuronal damage; and welders are at a higher risk of developing certain cancers.

A 2014 workers compensation case in Victoria has also recognised a link between welding and lung cancer: A welder succeeded in gaining
compensation for lung cancer, after the Victorian County Court found his work -
not his 20-year smoking history - caused the disease. The worker, who had to have a lung removed, and suffered cancer in his other lung, argued his disease was caused by his three year employment. When he began welding
galvanised steel there were no fans or extraction devices in
the factory, nor were masks provided. In winter particularly, with the factory's
sliding door closed, the factory would be "full of fumes". Tables with exhaust fans were provided 18 months into the
worker's employment, but they were so powerful they would "suck out all the
gas" and make welding very difficult. They were also very noisy, causing workers
to turn them off. When the Fencing Design bought the company, it provided face
masks to workers, but according to the worker, sometimes delayed replacing the
necessary filters.

Despite WorkCover's argument that as cigarette smoking was
"26 times more likely to be the cause of lung cancer in welders who were also
light smokers", the judge Robert Dyer found the worker's adenocarcinoma
was significantly contributed to by his welding work.
He upheld the worker's claim, finding that welders were at a higher risk
(approximately 44 per cent higher for lung cancer generally and 23 per cent
higher in relation to adenocarcinoma) of contracting cancer than non-welders in
the general population.

In 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified welding fumes and UV radiation from welding as Group 1 carcinogens.

Welding fumes were previously classified in Group 2B, but new evidence from research motivated the change. Two related chemicals, molybdenum trioxide and indium tin oxide, were classified in Group 2B as possibly carcinogenic to humans based on "sufficient evidence."Read more IARC: Welding Fumes, UV Radiation from Welding Are Carcinogenic, American Industrial Hygienists Association

More information:

The model Code of Practice under the model Work Health Safety Act:
Welding Processes developed
to provide practical guidance for persons conducting a business or
undertaking on how to manage health and safety risks associated with
welding. It is not (as at August 2017) a Code under the
Victorian OHS Act, however, forms part of the 'state of knowledge' and is therefore useful. It can be downloaded from this section of the SWA website.

The Welding Information Centre - a website sponsored by current and former manufacturers and distributors of welding rods, this site has OHS information as well as information on research, history and more.

OHS Training

The Victorian Trades Hall Council's OHS Training Unit is one of the most experienced training providers in Victoria. We provide training in multiple locations around Melbourne's suburbs as well as across regional Victoria.